Eye Surgery Creates Hope For Girl, 6

After initial surgery Wednesday, doctors say that Dilek Erdogan, a 6-year-old girl from Turkey born without normal eyelids or eye openings, may have a chance for some sight.

The girl`s mother and the Turkish-American restaurant owner who brought her to Chicago both said after the surgery that they are relieved, thankful and hopeful.

During a four-hour procedure at the University of Illinois Hospital`s eye clinic, Dr. Allen Putterman, an eyelid surgery specialist, made an opening over Dilek`s right eye so that doctors could examine the eye directly for the first time.

They found that the eye appears to be intact with near normal pressure and a good retina and nerve leading to the brain, Putterman said. The cornea in the front of the eye appears abnormally shaped and covered with scar tissue.

Dr. Joel Sugar, another university eye specialist who examined Dilek, said despite the abnormalities, she probably still will benefit from a cornea transplant in about six months.

The abnormalities, which result from a rare genetic condition called cryptophthalmos, or ``hidden eyes,`` make it more likely that a transplanted cornea could become cloudy instead of remaining clear, the ideal outcome.

Even a clouded cornea would improve Dilek`s chance at vision, Sugar said. The eye specialists say the girl has no chance of gaining eyesight enabling her to read, but they hope to provide her with vision so she can see objects, outlines and shadows--enough to let her walk across a room unassisted.

``That would be a real triumph. That is our goal,`` said Putterman.

Besides making an opening to permit an examination of Dilek`s right eye, Putterman performed a complex procedure he developed to fashion a viable orbit around the eye and to provide lids.

This requires the insertion of C-shaped devices called conformers that are attached to bone above and below the socket. The area held open by the converters is lined with tissue taken from inside the patient`s mouth.

Putterman has performed this surgery about 100 times, including some patients who came from other countries. He has a high rate of success in keeping the socket viable. In most cases this is for purely cosmetic reasons, and the patient wears an artificial eye after his own eye has been lost to cancer or trauma.

In Dilek`s case, it is hoped that her own right eye will provide some sight. A similar procedure will be done in the future for the left side of her face, but that will be for appearances only. She doesn`t have a viable left eye.

After the surgery and examination, Putterman sewed the girl`s eyelids shut for recuperation. In about six months, the lids can be reopened and shortly after that a cornea transplant can be made.

The doctors were generally optimistic after Wednesday`s surgery.

``Finding the muscles intact that move the eye was a nice surprise,``

Putterman said.

``I thank God for this,`` said Guldane Erdogan, Dilek`s mother, after the surgery. ``Whatever the outcome, we are so thankful.``

Ismet Deletioglu, owner of the Middle Eastern Garden restaurant, 2621 N. Clark St., said he had been unable to sleep in anticipation of the surgery.

Deletioglu brought Dilek and her mother to Chicago last December after reading of the girl`s plight in a Turkish newspaper. He has established a trust fund for Dilek at Aetna Bank, Fullerton Avenue and Halsted Street.